Xiao Letian didn't expect that just because he showed a little kindness to Prussia and Germany, the United States began to take offense. Xiao Letian held the wine glass and pondered in silence. He knew very well that just because Matthew had a good personal relationship with him, it didn't mean that he would give up. Xiao Letian is no longer alone in the interests of the United States. As a rising political star in East Asia, he has reached a point where the great powers have to pay attention.
As the prime minister of the Ryukyu Kingdom, he has a new army with high combat effectiveness, a trading company that is about to transform into a bank, and even controls one of the three major industrial zones in the Qing Empire.
Not only that, Xiao Letian also owns a private mint, a secret intelligence network, and has even corrupted and won over a small court. At least in the land of Zhili, 90% of the counties have been controlled by Xiao Letian's network. ,
It is impossible for such a monstrous force not to attract the attention of these foreigners, not to mention that the United States has now regarded Xiao Letian as their largest partner in Asia. The political investment given to Xiao Letian cannot be a loss.
Now Matthew has keenly discovered that Xiao Letian has a good impression of Germany. This is an invisible threat to the United States. Needless to say, it goes without saying that it is impossible for Matthew to deal with the two big deals of arms business and investment in industrial zones between the two parties. Let the Germans take a share of the pie,
"Mr. Matthew, you may have misunderstood my actions. In Xiao Letian's plan, the United States will always be the first partner, while Germany will always be the last..."
"The American Civil War is now over. The focus of the United States in the next few decades is to develop the domestic economy, so there is no possibility of war... To put it bluntly, the Russians have been promoting Alaska to the US government, but in your domestic politics There are constant voices of opposition, isn’t it because of economic reasons?”
Xiao Letian said that Matthew was a little blushing. The Russians had lowered the asking price of Alaska to 7.5 million US dollars, but there were still objections in the government. After all, the wars in the past few years had consumed the national power of the United States too much.
"Haha, forget it, let's not talk about those unpleasant things. The topic returns to Prussia. Why should I send three hundred soldiers? Because I have a premonition that the rise of Prussia will inevitably lead to a series of wars, and my officers need to get For training, they must understand what modern warfare is..."
"If you regard these soldiers as students, you will suddenly understand. My army needs training, and the areas where wars can occur in the future will definitely not include North America. I firmly believe this..."
Xiao Letian's explanation made Matthew feel a little more at ease, but Matthew's words immediately chilled the atmosphere at the wine table.
"Dear Xiao, as far as I know you not only sent a team of soldiers who need to learn, but you also provided the German government with a huge war loan, I don't know how many million taels there are,"
Xiao Letian didn't expect that Matthew's intelligence work was so good. As a top-secret war loan plan, he actually found out about it so quickly.
After a slight silence, Xiao Letian smiled, "Matthew deserves to be the military attache stationed in China. This intelligence work is really impressive. If you are given another ten or eight years to operate, there will probably be no secrets in the territory of the Qing Dynasty." "
Matthew didn't care at all about Xiao Letian's teasing. He smiled slightly and said, "It's my responsibility. I have my beliefs and pursuits. In the eyes of good politicians, these are nothing..."
"That's right, I, Xiao Letian, provided Germany with a war loan. Although I can't tell you the specific amount, the amount is definitely a lot. You don't have to worry that I will choose Germany and give up the friendly relationship with the United States. This is just It’s just a business deal…”
"After the Germans get my war loan, they will help me train new army officers, and they will also accept one thousand to two thousand of my outstanding students for further studies. Moreover, Germany will also open up some core technologies to China, so this The money is not free..."
"Matthew, you can discuss with Minister Hua Ruohan. If the U.S. government opens navy and army officer training schools to Ryukyu, such as West Point and the Annapolis Naval Academy, and accepts another two to three thousand international students, I will You can also consider providing the United States with a loan of one hundred to two million taels of silver..."
Xiao Letian finally made up his mind, even if his belt was tightened, he would still do this. Instead of China's money being wasted as war reparations, I might as well send it out in advance and exchange favors and talents.
"How about Mr. Matthew? This deal is very reasonable, isn't it? Are you not quarreling over the purchase of Alaska in your country? I think my funds are enough to get rid of the opponents of the President, right?"
Xiao Letian tapped his fingers lightly on the rosewood table and said thoughtfully, "This wealth can completely establish a foundation, and use the profits generated by this foundation to support the living expenses and tuition fees of these students. If we can cooperate happily, , I can even stay in the United States permanently with this foundation, and you don’t even have to pay back the principal..."
Matthew was stunned. He didn't expect that a small trial could actually bring about such a heavy diplomatic gain. Xiao Letian's weight in his mind became even greater.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Xiao, I have to leave early. Before my mind is numbed by alcohol, I want to write out the detailed rules and say goodbye..." After saying that, he turned around and left.
Looking at Matthew leaving, Xiao Letian sighed, "I'm just a hard-working person. I was planning to spend the New Year quietly, but Matthew was disturbed. Don't worry, it won't take four or five days. Minister Hua Ruohan will be here." Come here in person, the price I offer is something he can't refuse at all..."
At this time, Zhou Tongzhi, who was at the wine table, quickly stood up and toasted Xiao Letian respectfully: "I really can't understand your master's layout. Only the city in your heart can support such a large economic layout. Everyone in the world is afraid of foreigners." Like tigers and leopards, but only you, my lord, can single-handedly defeat these tigers and leopards. You are truly the number one diplomat in the Qing Dynasty..."
"Haha, flattery, I have become an animal trainer, but your analogy is still very pertinent. When it comes to diplomacy in the Qing Dynasty, no one can surpass me..."
"Come, come, come, drink this cup. After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, we will be busy. The fifth year of Tongzhi is waiting for us." After a glass of wine, dozens of firecrackers with a hundred thousand rings were hung on the long street. Suddenly there was a chorus, and the whole Tanggu city was shocked.
Immediately afterwards, firecrackers were set off in every alley in the city, and even the nearby villages began to crackle. The entire New Year's Eve atmosphere had been heated to its peak.
Just when the entire Qing Dynasty was immersed in a sea of joy, a Dutch merchant ship that had sailed to the Strait of Malacca also heard an explosion. It was not a red firecracker, but countless Spencer guns shooting into the air.
More than 300 people including Xiao Hexin, Sima Yun, Luo Huo, Noheita, and Hyoutaro crowded on the spacious deck, using gunshots instead of firecrackers, and using their roars to bless their hometown in the north.
"The hometown where the souls of our ancestors live... are waiting for us to come back. Even if we spill our blood in a foreign land, the souls will come back... Mr. Xiao, waiting for us to come back..."
Xiao Hexin wiped his tears fiercely and yelled loudly, "Shout, shout hard, tomorrow morning we will enter the Indian Ocean, then Africa, the Atlantic Ocean, and finally Europe, this is your last Once again, we looked at our motherland. There was no one to protect us on the road below, so we had to rely on ourselves..."
Jonas knew that today was the Spring Festival, the most important holiday for the Chinese, so he did not arrange any classes. He even prepared a lot of food and wine to entertain these oriental young men.
In this sincere roar, this descendant of the Teutonic Knights was moved, and the eyes of the big-nosed foreigner were moist. He knew in his heart that the Chinese, like the Prussians now, are at the crossroads of history. In front of us, I am afraid only God can decide whether to become stronger or to decline.
But no matter what the final result is, the two nations are now in similar situations. China is being bullied by the established powers, while Germany has not even completed its reunification. France is still instigating the four southern states, two suffering nations. Emotionally connected,
At this moment, Jonas suddenly heard a burst of crackling sounds coming from the shore not far away. He looked closely and found that the night ship had already seen the outline of Singapore, the Lion City.
"Look, are the Chinese setting off firecrackers on the shore? Are they the same Chinese as you?" Following Jonas's roar, all the soldiers on the ship went crazy. It would be in vain if they couldn't hear the sound of firecrackers. For the Chinese,
At this time, there was no name for Singapore. It was called Singapore by the indigenous people and the Lion City by the Chinese. It is still under the control of Malaysia. According to the division of Western power, it should be a colony divided by the Netherlands and Portugal.
However, Singapore is a special case. The British included it as their own sphere of influence in 1826 in order to control the Strait of Malacca.
A large number of Southeast Asian indigenous peoples live here, as well as countless Chinese. Especially at the end of the Taiping Rebellion, a large number of southern Han people began to flee to Southeast Asia for fear of the Manchus' revenge. The Lion City was also one of their main destinations.
The young men on the merchant ship went crazy. They could hear the sound of firecrackers from their motherland in a foreign land thousands of miles away. Everyone could not suppress the excitement in their hearts and roared desperately towards the Lion City. Everyone shed tears.
"Mr. Jonas, can you stay in the Lion City for one day so that we can meet our relatives and have a New Year's Eve dinner from our mother country...can't we even have one day for this long journey?"
How could Jonas refuse the collective request of these young men? He nodded helplessly, but he also had conditions, "Everyone must not bring weapons when they go ashore. I only give you one day. Get off the boat at breakfast and five o'clock in the evening." Must return to the ship before..."
"If someone delays, the merchant ship will not stay for one more minute..."
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